Psalms 106:36 And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
The Greek writer Homer tells us of Oedipus’ desperate journey home. His way took him through many adventures, which tested his integrity. One such test was sailing through sirens infested waters. (Sirens: mythological mermaids).
Sirens usually inhabited rock filled sea regions. Mariners who would approach them would meet their doom as the rocks pierced their vessel. Sirens lured sailors with their beautiful feminine voices. Attracted, captains would order the ship towards what they were beautiful bare breasted women, and thus were lured to treacherous hidden rocks lurking just beneath the surface of the water.
Oedipus, this ship’s captain, knew of the danger of following the siren’s call, but he wanted to hear their song. As his ship neared the siren-infested waters, he commanded his men to tie him to the mast of the ship and to stuff their ears with straw. He also told them to plug their own ears so they could ignore any command of his to stir the ship towards the sirens. Thus, Oedipus heard the song of the infamous sirens and kept his vessel on course.
How like the lure of Homer’s sirens is the call of temptation. Did Oedipus really foil the siren’s attempts? His body may have been tied to the mast, but through his ears, his heart was still conquered. His body couldn’t conceive temptation into sinful action, but his heart was nevertheless taken.
The fear of negative repercussions instilled in us by religious and secular laws may tie us to ‘the mast’ and keep us from doing the wrong things, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that our hearts do not yearn for the evil.
Jesus and Paul both warned us to not deceive ourselves by pretending to obey God by following the letter of the law. God sees even the thinking of evil in our heart (Matthew 5:28). What are we to do now when we live in a world where in every media possible, where in both religious and secular institutions, sirens scream their songs at us through loudspeakers? How can our heart not be negatively affected?
We cannot isolate ourselves from the world, but we can avoid the sounds of the sirens in our own homes, and insulate our heart from their songs by the Holy Spirit that is given to us.
Proverbs 4:14-15 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
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